Why has gentrification skipped Washington?

So there are lots of greats businesses on Vanderbilt, and a growing number on Franklin, but just a smattering on Washington. Why is Washington so retarded?

The Islands
Tom's
Sit and Wonder
Washington Commons
Gen
3D's
Taqueria De Los Muertos
Prospect Pond
Rawstar
Udom
Cafe Shane

I'd say there's quite a few businesses to be happy about on Washington.

I was just about to say all those places are great plus Way Station is opening up soon and there's a legit sports bar on Washington too while Franklin has a club/restaurant/sports bar (95S) and Vanderbilt has a restaurant/regular bar/sports bar (Plan .

Teddy's, great chicken or pork souvlaki. Gino"s pizza good pie still 10 bucks, Postal/shipping place nice people and good hours. Half Court, good sports bar,extra clean bathrooms. Not to mention a couple of nice clothing shops.

the traffic on washington with its 4 lanes will always make it seem a bit less fancy.

We go out on Washington as much as we do on Vandy if not more and We live on Underhill so it isnt a convenience bias. In fact, we probably cater Washington more often. Some real quality places in different price ranges. Can't beat Gen, my wife prefers Sit and..over Joyce, the taqueria is great and Udom holds its own. Wash commons is a great bar that i prefer over Plan B or Soda. Pretty decent wine/liquor store. However, I dont get my hair cut at any of the 500 barber shops and the grocery is inferior to Met.

Viva Washington!

I agree that Vandy Looks a little nicer though. The medians will make a big difference once and if the trees grow and they are maintained well.

Carnivore wrote: The Islands
Tom's
Sit and Wonder
Washington Commons
Gen
3D's
Taqueria De Los Muertos
Prospect Pond
Rawstar
Udom
Cafe Shane

I'd say there's quite a few businesses to be happy about on Washington.

Ortine
Ginger Root Cafe
and I got a menu for a place that is supposed to be opening between Sterling and Park, but I've forgotten the name.

raisedeyebrow wrote: ...and the grocery is inferior to Met.

My wife is pretty excited about the renovations happening at NSA (formerly C-Town). She thinks it's going to be a legit grocery alternative.

Where is this NSA grocery store? Is it new ownership? AND, I unfortunately need to drive down Washington twice a day & am in constant awe of the # of people who double park, making no effort to actually park their car even when they might even be blocking others from a legit. spot. I wish the traffic cops would ticket them. Or give them lessons in parallel parking.

brownie wrote: Where is this NSA grocery store? Is it new ownership?

Washington @ Prospect. I don't know about the ownership situation, but someone is pumping money in to the place. I haven't been in there in a couple months, but I think that most, if not all, of the refrigerators and freezers have been replaced along with new shelving. I think that they're going to be doing the floors and whatnot, too.

WhyFi wrote: [quote=brownie]Where is this NSA grocery store? Is it new ownership?

Washington @ Prospect. I don't know about the ownership situation, but someone is pumping money in to the place. I haven't been in there in a couple months, but I think that most, if not all, of the refrigerators and freezers have been replaced along with new shelving. I think that they're going to be doing the floors and whatnot, too.
It would be nice if they could renovate the exterior as well. I walk by that place all the time and never go in because it's so unappealing.

I'm sure that they'll do something to increase curb appeal and let people know about the renovations happening inside...

I'm just glad that the wafting smells from the produce area don't push me back out the door anymore.

Ugh...

They will really have to gut renovate the place....

I stopped bothering with items that had to be fresh at C-Town when I saw rotten produce on the floor. I dry heave just thinking about it.

Washington is a little grimy and could use some more trees. Plus it has those car repair shops up at the north end, and kind of a dead zone in the middle (between Atlantic and EP). But overall it is better than Franklin, and a viable alternative to Vanderbilt.

What's 3D's?

Cool The Kid wrote: Ugh...

They will really have to gut renovate the place....

It looks like this is exactly what they're doing - I just took a walk through, I had to pick up a few things.

Right now, the produce section is gutted - new shelving is being taken off the flatbed and being installed today, it seems. All of the interior shelving for dry goods has been replaced. Matching refrigerated shelving for the meat section and dairy sections has been installed, too. New freezer cases, as well.

Floors are patchy and the lighting is still a tad depressing, but I'd be surprised if these issues aren't addressed. Overall, it does look pretty promising.

Yeah, this thread would have made sense about a year and a half ago. Since then, Washington has really improved. And I, too, am excited about the NSA renovations. Parts of it now look like a real grocery store, and hopefully all of it will at some point soon.

Hatemail wrote: What's 3D's?

Caribbean place between Sterling and St Johns on the Crown Heights side of Washington. They have good patties. I've also had a tasty shrimp curry from there; it wasn't as good as the Islands, but I got it much quicker.

WhyFi wrote: My wife is pretty excited about the renovations happening at NSA (formerly C-Town). She thinks it's going to be a legit grocery alternative.

Amen. That place was awful but it's coming around. New aisles, freezer/cooler cases.

I buy my non-perishables at NSA. It's a lot cheaper than the Key Foods on Flatbush or even the Met on Vanderbilt.

While it hasn't gone through the ridiculous metamorphosis that 5th Ave. and Vanderbilt have gone through, that is not the Washington Ave. I remember when I first moved to Brooklyn in 2001. Not by a long shot.

I think the northern part of washington is much better than it was just few years ago. When you go south of tom's then it starts to get really crappy.

....it is sooooo much better than it was in 2003.

whynot_31 wrote: ....it is sooooo much better than it was in 2003.

2003? Brooklyn existed back then???

yes, and Washington seemingly had all of the gunshots and crime that have now moved to Franklin and Nostrand.

...the block still has its dealers, but now things are more discreet. That's all I'm asking for, a little subtlety.

P.S. At least I'm not reminiscing about 1952, and doing it in ALL CAPS LIKE THE PEOPLE ON BROOKLYN BACK WHEN.

whynot_31 wrote: ....it is sooooo much better than it was in 2003.

Make custom Glitter Graphics

SWEET TEA THAT IS EXCELLENT. EVERYTHING IS BETTER WITH SPARKLES AND JACK DANIELS.

GOD BLESS! I HOPE YOUR GRANDCHILDREN ARE WELL.

P.S. "New" places and things I enjoy on Washington:
OK, but not great, Thai food.
Good Sushi place.
Laid back Teddys for Greek food.
A neighborhood cake shop/baking supply store.
Being able to buy unexpired food at Key Food.
Beer Distributor.
An actual chain drugstore, Thiftyway, for prescriptions and shampoo.
A bank operated ATM.

Two places I wish would improve to match the new neighborhood:
1. Ginos pizza. (it's just wrong.)

2. Mayday Hardware. (please join the True Value or Ace alliances so you can get better products and pricing)

sweet tea wrote: [quote=whynot_31]....it is sooooo much better than it was in 2003.

Make custom Glitter Graphics

That is fuckin' hilarious!!!

http://citynoise.org/article/1486

I'm totally happy with the way Washington is right now, with Washington Commons, Sit and Wonder and Ortine's. A decent supermarket is all we need.

Vanderbilt is great, but they can have the endless stream over boutiques, bars, cafes, overpriced soggy designer sandwiches and three-deep streams of hipsters strolling around on the weekend.

whynot_31 wrote: http://citynoise.org/article/1486

A few less bodegas and a few more trees and it would be a great street.
I can't stand the bodega on Washington and Lincoln Place. I think they are really rude to everyone.

did i miss something? gentrification = displacement of people. if you are rooting for gentrification you are rooting for the destruction of communities, homelessness, and poverty.

development can take place without gentrification. not to mention there is and has been for many years thriving businesses on washington. this isn't to say there isn't room for improvement, but you don't need to fuck over a community to develop an area (good way to do this - build as much affordable housing as condos and bullshit).

it may pain some that they have to walk a few blocks to buy their "vintage" 75 dollar sweater that was bought by the pound in the mid west.